Mauricio Pochettino is convinced that Tottenham striker Harry Kane can be better even than Argentina great Gabriel Batistuta.
Spurs boss Pochettino was a team-mate of the formidable striker, known as Batigol thanks to his phenomenal scoring rate for club and country, at Rosario side Newell’s Old Boys in the 1988-89 season as well as for the Argentina national team.
For the Albiceleste Batistuta, whose cannon of a right boot famously sent Arsenal careering out of the Champions League in 1999, became the top goalscorer in their history, netting 54 times in just 77 caps, though he was subsequently passed by Lionel Messi.
And though Kane, who scored his 100th and 101st Tottenham goals in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Everton, is not quite on a par with Batistuta his manager is convinced that the England striker can go on to be better than the former Fiorentina and Roma striker.
“Batistuta was a killer,” Pochettino told reporters. “Very strong mentality; very strong shot, great professional. You can compare.
“[He’s not quite there yet] but Harry can be better. He is a killer, Harry Kane. Look at the goals he scored the last years! Mental level? Yes. Absolutely [they are equal]. Maybe they have different characteristics but I think he is in that level, with Batistuta.
“All that is happening to him he deserves.”
In Pictures | Everton vs Tottenham | 09/09/2017
After just 169 games in all competitions for Tottenham, Kane reached his ton in spectacular and perhaps fortuitous fashion, a curling cross from the right looping over Jordan Pickford in the Everton goal.
At only 24 years of age there is plenty of time for Kane to reach 200 Spurs goals, particularly if he fulfils his promise to up his scoring rate.
“Hopefully I can get another hundred even quicker,” Kane said.
“All the individual records are good but you want to try and win club trophies. That is what it is all about.”